FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2016
Greyhounds Picked to Repeat as NE-10 Champions
MANSFIELD, Mass. – The defending Northeast-10 Conference Champion Assumption Greyhounds have been tabbed as the preseason favorites in the NE-10 Football Coaches' Poll, it was announced on Friday.
For complete results of the poll, which is voted upon by the league's head coaches, please see below.
The Greyhounds racked up 79 points and seven first-place votes to land the top spot. Assumption, which finished 11-2 last season, won its first-ever NE-10 Football Championship in 2015, claiming the regular season crown before holding off New Haven, 17-14, in the title game. The Hounds then took down Bowie State at home, 51-29, in the first round of the NCAA Championship before dropping a heartbreaking 41-39 contest at Slippery Rock in the second round.
Assumption, ranked 21st in the country in the AFCA Preseason Poll, is slated to return a number of key members from its 2015 squad, including eight all-conference selections. Most notably, 2015 NE-10 Coach of the Year Bob Chesney will be bringing last year's championship game MVP Jarrod Casey and reigning NE-10 Rookie of the Year Deonte Harris (pictured) back for the 2016 campaign.
New Haven was slotted at No. 2 in the coaches' poll with a total of 72 points and a pair of first-place votes as well. The Chargers, who finished 7-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play last season, will also be returning major pieces for the upcoming season. Chris Pincince will welcome back the likes of reigning NE-10 MVP Andre Anderson, Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Condit and all-conference quarterback Ajee Patterson.
Coming in at No. 3 was 2014 league champion LIU Post, which returns first team all-conference quarterback Jeff Kidd, with a total of 61 points. Just behind the Pioneers in the fourth spot were the Warriors of Merrimack, who garnered 58 points and one vote for first place. Stonehill rounded out the top-5 with a total of 44 points.
Both American International and Bentley were tied for sixth with 39 points apiece, while Southern Connecticut came in at No. 8 with 30 points. Closing out the preseason poll were Saint Anselm (9th – 15 pts.) and Pace (10th – 13).
The 2016 NE-10 football season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 1, as Saint Anselm and Pace hit the road. Stonehill will open its campaign at home the following night, while the other seven squads will start their seasons on Saturday, Sept. 3.
Assumption and New Haven's championship rematch is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 at New Haven. The 2016 NE-10 Championship will be played on Saturday, Nov. 12.
2016 NE-10 Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Assumption - 79 Pts. (7)
2. New Haven - 72 (2)
3. LIU Post - 61
4. Merrimack - 58 (1)
5. Stonehill - 44
t-6. American Int'l - 39
t-6. Bentley - 39
8. So. Connecticut - 30
9. Saint Anselm - 15
10. Pace - 13
(#) – indicates first-place votes
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
